Railway switching and signal interlocking apparatus.



, Patented Aug. l9, I902.

J. D. TAYLOR. RAILWAY SWITCHING AND SIGNAL I NTEBLOGKING'APPABATUS (Application filed Nov. 10, 1900.)

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No. 7o7,|s|. Patented Aug. l9, I902.

Y J.-D. TAYLOR. RAILWAY SWITCHING AND SIGNAL INTEBLOCKING APPARATUS.

(Application mm Nqv. 10, 1900.)

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Patented Aug. l9, I902.

No. 707,l8l.

. J. n. TAYLOR. y RAILWAY SWITCHING AND SIGNAL [NTEBLOCKING APPARATUS.

(Application filed Nov. 10, 1900.)

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No. 7o7,|s|. Patented Aug. l9, I902.

Y J. n. TAYLOR.

RAILWAY SWITCHING AND SIGNAL INTEBLOCKING APPARATUS. I

(Application filed Nov. 10, 1900.)

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N0. 707,I8I. Patented Aug. I9, I902;

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RAILWAY SWITCHING AND SIGNAL INTERLOCKING APPARATUS.

I (Application filed Nov. 10, 1900.) (No Model.) I v 5 sheets-sheet 5.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN D. TAYLOR, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO TAYLOR SIGNAL COMPANYiOF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

R AILWAY SWITCHING AND SIGNAL INTERLOCKING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent NO. 707,181, dated August 19, 1902.

Application filed November 10, 1900. Serial No. 36,020. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

zenof the United States, residing at Buffalo,

New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway Switching and Signal Interlocking Apparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This improvement is used with and relates to railway signaling and switching apparatus operated and controlled by electricity, and, further, is an improvement upon the system and. apparatus disclosed in my former patents, No. 554,097, February 4, 1896, and No. 605,359, June 7, 1898, and in my pending application, filed November 10, 1900, Serial No. 36,022.

The object of this invention is to secure a more certain and perfect indication of the movement of a switch or signal and release of the locking mechanism between a lever controlling a particular switch or signal and levers controlling other switches or signals governing routes conflicting with the route governed by said particular switch or signal in its position previous to the movement. As this release is effected through the movement of a piece by the current generated in the case of a switch by the rotation of the motorarmature after the switch has beenmoved home. and locked in either position and in the case of a signal by the rotation of the motorarmature in the last part of the movement when the signal is going to the normal or danger position, and as the currents so generated are of only momentary duration it is desirable to have the mechanism so conof Fig. 2 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig.

2, showing a signalmechanism, as hereinafter described. Fig. 6 is a diagram of the electric circuits employed in connection with the ap paratus herein described. The switch and signal operating machines which form part of and are ,,controlled and operated through Y the said electric circuits are fully described is held between guide-plates 3. It is'supported on rollers 4, pivoted to the guide-plates 22 and prevented from upward movement by straps 5 across the guide-plates. -It is thus permitted'to move only longitudinally. The bar 2 has a slot 6 out through it, the middle and longest. part-of which is parallel to the length of the bar. The twoparts of the slot contiguous to the middle partareinclined at an angle to the length of the .bar and are of equal lengths and inclined at equal angles and in the same direction, and the two parts constituting the' ends 0f the slot are parallel to the length oflthe bar;

A locking-tappet 7 has a jaw 8' rigidly attached, and a roller 9'is pivoted in the jaw. The jaw 8 is guided by vertical grooves in the guide-plates 3. The roller 9 runs in the'slot 6 in the bar 2. When the bar2 is moved, the tappet 7 remains stationary while the roller 9 is traveling along theparts of the slot par allel to the length of the bar 2 and is moved up or down when the roller9 travels along the inclined portions of the slot, the direction of movement depending upon the direction of movement of the bar 2. The tappet 7 is locked or released by other similar tappetsconnected to other levers by the well-known vmeans employed for this purpose in other and Well-known forms of interlocking apparatus. I am aware that the movement of the tappet 7 by means of the slot 6 has been used and do not claim it except in combination with my invention.

A bar 10 is pivoted in a lug 11, extending downward from the bar 2 and is supported by the armature 12 of the two solenoids 13 and 14, consisting each of two spools. The cores 15 pass through the armature 12 and extend to a considerable distance into both solenoids. They form the support of the armature 12 and with it are free to move a limited distance in the direction of the axes of the coils 13 and 1+L, which are parallel to the bar 2. The bar 10 has notches with beveled ends 16 and 17 cut into its under surface in such location that in certain positions of the bar 10 and armature 12 the armature may be under the notches 16 or 17. A lug 18, extending upwardly, is formed on the end of the bar 10, and when the armature 12 is under a full part of the bar 10 the lug 18 extends into a notch 19, cutin the under side of the bar 20. The bar 20 is capable of a limited longitudinal movement and is held laterally by the guide-plates 3, rollers 21 above, and the frame to which the guide-plates 3 are attached beneath. The movement of the bar 20 is limited by the shoulders of the notch 22, cut in its under surface, abutting against the block 23, which bridges across the space between the two guide-plates 3, which contain the bar 20. The circuit-controlling switch 1 is connected to the outer end of the bar 20 and is moved by it. The extent of the movement of the bar 20 is less than the middle horizontal part of the slot 6 in the bar 2 by as much as the notch 19 is larger than the lug 18.

In Fig. 3 the mechanism is shown in the normal position. To reverse it, the bar 2 must be drawn out. The part of the movement which carries the roller 9 up the first incline in the slot 6 raises the tappet 7 so as to look all levers governing routes conflicting with the reverse position of the bar or 1ever 2. At the same time the full part of the bar 10 climbs the end of the armature 12, and the lug 18 is inserted in the notch 19 of the bar 20. The further movement of the bar 2, during which the roller 9 travels along the middle horizontal part of the slot 6, carries the bar 20 along with it, the full part of the bar 10 remaining over the armature 12 during this movement. At the end of this movement the bar 2 is stopped through the bar 1 O, the lug 13, the notch 19, and the bar 20 by the shoulder of the notch 22 striking the block 23. Here it is held until the current generated by the switch-motor energizes the solenoid 14 and draws the armature 12 under the notch 17 in the bar 10. This allows the bar 10 to drop, withdrawing the lug 18 from the notch 19, after which the bar 2 is free to move the remainder of its stroke, carrying the roller 9 up the second incline in the slot 6. This last movement further raises the tappet 7, thereby releasing other levers to take positious not conflicting with the reverse position of the bar 2. In putting the bar 2 back into the normal position again the operations are the same except in the reverse direction, and the release comes through solenoid 13 instead of 14 being energized. Fig. 2 shows the mechanism in the relative position in the movement of the bar 2 toward the normal position just before the indication or release is given. If theindication-currentshould from any cause fail to be given, the bar 2 could not complete its movement to release the looking of the other levers; but if the operator should pull the bar 2 back toward its reverse position the armature 12 would in such case be in the proper position to permit the lug 18 to drop out of the notch 19, and so allow the bar 2 to complete its movement whether any current were sent through the solenoid 14 or not. an attempt to pass from the normal to the reverse position in the event of failure of the indication-current. To prevent a failure of indication of this kind, a lug 2t projects from the side of the armature 12 in the path of a pawl 25, pivoted to the side of the bar 10. As the bar 10 moves the pawl carries the armature 12 with it and keeps it under the full part or the bar 10. Just beforethe bar 10 is stopped by the shoulder of the notch 22 in the bar 20 striking thestop 23 the point of the pawl 25 is raised above the lug 24 by a lug 26, attached to and projecting downwardly from the guide-plate 3,striking an upwardly-projecting lug 27 at the farther end of the pawl 25. The pawl 25 out of the way, the armature 12 is then free to respond to the current in the solenoid 14. The upper side of the pawl 25 is shouldered near its point, so that when passing under the lug 26 the point of the pawl 25 is depressed so that it cannot miss the lug 24- on the armature 12. A similar pawl 28 is located on the other side of the armature 12 to move it in the opposite direction. These pawls 25 and 28 are provided, respectively, with steps 29 and 30 to prevent their points dropping too low. The pawls come into action only in case of a failure of the indicationcurrent on a previous movement. In order to prevent a rebound of the armature 12 when it is quickly moved, which might result in a false indication, I provide an additional lock, which is described below. The lower end of the armature 12 is made V-shaped, and held against it by means of a spring 33 is a bolt 31, having an oppositely V-shaped head. The bolt 31 is contained within and guided by a chamber 32, attached in any suitable manner to the frame of the solenoid. The spring 33 is contained within the chamber 32 between the head of the bolt 31 and the bottom of the chamber. The armature 12 in passing from either position to the other depresses the bolt 31, thereby compressing the spring 33, and the force required to effect this compression is sufficient to prevent the rebound of the armature 12 when it is suddenly thrown by a too-rapid movement of the bar The same conditions would obtain in The signal-lever apparatus, as shown in Fig. 5, is similar to the switch-lever apparatus, except that as indication is required only'when going to the normal or danger position only one pair of solenoids 13, one pawl 28, and one notch 16 in the bar are provided. To permit the signal-lever to make its complete movement in the reverse direc-- switch and signal operating motors to the intion without indication, the notch 19 is made longer. In its movement to the normal position it is exactly like the switch-lever, and the same description answers for both. To more fully describe the functions of this apparatus, I will trace the electric circuits by means of. which the electric power is transmitted tothe'switch and signal operating machines from the primary source and from the dicating and releasing mechanism forming part of the herein-described apparatus. For this purpose reference will be'made principally to Fig. 6.

Reversing or drawing out the bar 2 moves the electric switch comprising the bars 1 and 1 so that the bar 1 breaksconnection with I the contact 60 and makes connection with the contact 58 and the bar 1 breaks connection with the contact 61 and makes connection withthe contact 59. --The' bar 1 of the electric switch and the contacts 59 and 61 are not shown in Figs. 2 and 3, because they are directly behind the corresponding parts 1,

58, and 60. This new position of the electric switch 1 and l closes a'eircuit of the battery 34, so that current flows from the battery 34 through the wires 35,36, and 56, contact 58, bar 1, wire 81, contact 65, bar 67, wire 69, armature 70 of switch-operating motor, Wire 71, bar 68, contact 66, wire 73, field-coils 74' of said motor, wires 75 and 52 back to the battery 34. This current causes the rotation of the armature 70 and through the gearing connecting itwith the switch-rails effects the movement of the track-switch from the normal to the reverse position, as fully described in my said patents. movement the electric switch consisting of the bars 67 and 68 and the contacts 63,64,

65, and 66 and which is automatically operated bythe switch-operating mechanism is'.

reversed or changed in position, so that the bar 67 breaks connection with the contact and makes connection with the contact 64 and thebar 68 breaks connection with the contact 66 and makes connection with the contact63. This closes a circuit including the switch-operating motor and the solenoid 14, so that the current generated by the roa bar 67, contact 64, wires .72 and 73, field-coils 74, wires .75, 52, 55,80, and 79, solenoid 14,. wire 76, contact 59, bar- 1, wire 62, contact 63, bar 68, and wire 71 back to the armature 70. This current is in the proper direction through the field-coils 74 to build upthe tation of the armature due to momentum flows from said armature through wire 69,

magnetiz'ation'of the field-magnets, and it en'- ergizes the solenoid 14, causing it to move the armature 12, and releases the bar 10, as before described. From this it can be easily the electric-switch bar 1 through the me chanical connections before described, is changed. in position so thatit breaks con- 'seen that replacing the switches 1 and l into The electric switch 1*, Fig. 6, is the nection with the. contact 54 and makes ,con-

nection with the contact 38, thus closing a circuit of the battery 34, so that the current flows fromsaid battery through the wires 35 and 37, contact 38, bar l ,1wire,39, contact'40,

bar 41, contact 42, wire 43, armature 44-0f the signal-operating motor,'field-coils 45 of the said motor, wire 47, brush'49, rotary switcharm 50, wires.82, 51, and 52 back to the battery 34. This causes the armature 44mm I tate and through the intermediate gearing draws the signal-blade toclearposition and raises the counterweight. The rotation-continues until the rotary switch-arm, which is mechanically connected to and moved by the signal mechanism, is separated from the brush 49. This break in the circuit is then shunted by the brake-magnet 46, the currentcontinuing from the motor field-coils 45 through the magnet 46, wires 48,5l, and 52, back to the battery. This en ergizes the magnet'46, which When the electricswitch l iis put back into normal position, it is separated from the con-' tact 38' andput into connection-with the contact 54. The circuit above named is thereby,

sets the brake and holds the signal in theclear position so long as the current is main-- I .tained, as described in myPatent No. 516,903. Near'the end of this IIO broken, andthe signal .is released to return to normal under the influence of .a counter.- weight. The descendingcounterwei'ght trans mits its motion through the intermediate gearing andlcauses the armature 44torotate in a directionopposite to its direction when driyen by the current. When the rotary'switch-arm 5U movesfar enough to again make contact ing the signal-operating motor and thesolenoid13, so that the current induced in the arflows from the said armature through the field-coils 45, wire 47, brush 49, rotary switch- I arm 50, wires 82 51 52 55, solenoid 13?, wire".

7 with the brush49, acircuitis formed, includ 1 mature by its rotation in'a magnetic field g 53, contact 54, bar 1", wire 39, contact 40, bar

41, contact 42, and wire 43 back'to armature &

44. This energizes the solenoid 13, causing it to move the armature 12 so as to release the bar 10, as before mentioned.

Having thus described my invention and its method of operation, what I claim is 1. The combination of an electric switch and alever-bar actuating the same, consisting of a bar pivoted to said switch, a bar pivoted to said lever-bar, means for engaging said bars and means for throwing said bars in and out of engagement consisting of a solenoid and an armature actuated thereby, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. The combination of an electric switch and a lever-bar actuating the same, consisting of a bar pivoted to said switch, a bar pivoted to said lever-bar, a solenoid energized by the indication-current of the system, an armature actuated by said solenoid, beveled notches in said bar pivoted to said lever-bar which take over said armature, a lug on said bar pivoted to said switch, said bar pivoted to said lever-bar being normally out of engagement with said bar pivoted to said switch and thrown into engagement by carrying a full part of said bar over said armature and finally thrown out of engagement by said solenoid carrying saidarmature under one of said beveled notches, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. In combination with an interlocking mechanism, an electric switch, a lever-bar actuating the same, means for effecting the movement of one member of said interlocking mechanism by the movement of said lever-bar, locking the other connected members of said interlocking mechanism, a bar pivoted to said lever-bar, a bar pivoted to said switch, a solenoid energized by the indication-current of the system, an armature actuated by said solenoid, beveled notches in said bar pivoted to said lever-bar which engage over said armature, a lug on said bar engaging in a notch in said bar pivoted to said switch, said bars being normally out of engagement and thrown into engagement by carrying a full part of said bar having said beveled notches over said armature, and finally thrown out of engagement by said solenoid carrying said armature under one of said beveled notches, permitting the final throw of said lever-bar, and means for producing the final throw of said member of said interlocking mechanism by the final throw of said lever-bar, substantially as andfor the purposes setforth.

4. In combination with an interlocking mechanism, an electric switch, a lever-bar actuating the same, means for effecting the movement of one member of said interlocking mechanism by the movement of said lever-bar, locking the other connected member of said interlocking mechanism, a bar pivoted to said lever-bar, a bar pivoted to said switch, a solenoid energized by the indication-current of the system, an armature actuated by said solenoid, beveled notches in said bar pivoted to said lever-bar whichengage over said armature, a lug on said bar engaging in a notch in said bar pivoted to said switch, said bars being normally out of engagement and thrown into engagement by carrying a full part of said bar having said beveled notches over said armature, a stop engaging said bar pivoted to said switch preventing the final movement of the lever-bar until released from said switch, said bars being finally thrown out of engagement by said solenoid carrying said armature under one of said beveled notches, permitting the final throw of said lever-bar, and means for prodncing the final movement of said member of said interlocking mechanism by the final throw of said lever-bar, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. In combination with an electric switch and an interlocking mechanism, of a leverbar actuating said switch and actuating a member of said interlocking mechanism to lock all conflicting switches and signals by the initial movement of said leverbar, a bar pivoted to said switch, a bar pivoted to said lever-bar, a solenoid energized by the indication-current, an armature engaging said bar pivoted to said lever-bar, beveled notches in said bar taking over said armature, and having a lug capable of engagement in a notch in said bar pivoted to said switch, said levers being normally out of engagement, and thrown into engagement by the initial movement of the lever-bar carrying said bar pivoted thereto so that the armature engages a full part of said bar, means for preventing the final movement of the lever-bar while in engagement with said switch, means for preventing disengagement with said switch in the case of a false indication, and means for carrying said member of said interlocking mechanism to a final position by the final movement of said lever-bar after the same has been released by the action of the solen' oid under the indication-current, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

6. In combination with an electric switch and an interlocking mechanism, of a leverbar actuating said switch and actuating said interlocking mechanism upon the initial movement of said lever-bar to lock all conflicting switches and signals, a bar pivoted to said switch, a bar pivoted to said lever-bar, a double-throw solenoid, an armature reciprocated thereby and engaging said bar-pivoted to said lever-bar, beveled notches in said bar taking over said armature and having a lug capable of engagement in a notch in said bar pivoted to said switch, said levers being normally out of engagement and thrown into engagement by the initial movement of the leverbar in either direction, so that said armature engages a full part of said bar having said beveled notches, means for preventing the final movement of said lever-bar in either direction while in engagement with said switch, and means for carrying said member of said.

interlocking mechanism to a final position in either direction by the final movement of said lever-bar after the same has been released by the actionof the solenoid under the indicatiomcurrent, substantially as and for the purposes 'set forth.

'7. In an interlocking switch and signal system, an interlocking mechanism, an'electrio switch, a lever -barcontrolled in its initial movement by said interlocking mechanism,

. independent thereof in its intermediate movement, controlled in its-final movement by a solenoid energized by an indication-current,

and governing said interlocking mechanism in the'final movement of said lever-bar, and meansfor preventing said final-movement in caseof a failure of indication, substantially as and for the purposes'set' forth.

In an interlocking apparatus for switches and signals, interlocking mechanism, an electric switch, a lever-bar, means for-actuating said interlocking mechanism by the move- .mentof said lever-bar, mechanism for con-- trolling the throw of said lever-bar, a solenoid for controllingthe action of said mechanism governing the mechanism controlling the throw of'said lever-bar,'and means for-preventing the final-movement of said lever-bar in case of a failure of indication, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

- 9. The combination of an electric switch and a lever-bar actuating the same, of a bar pivoted to said switch, a bar pivoted tosaid lever-bar actuating said switch, means for throwing said bar so pivoted'in and out of engagement, consisting of a solenoid and an poses set forth.

armature actuated thereby, and means for preventing the fina-lthrow of said lever-bar in case of a failure of indication consisting of a oted to said switch and provided with a notch onits lower side, a bar pivoted to said leverbarlwhich takes over the upperend of said armature and is provided ono'n'e side with a lug adapted to engage with said notch and on the other so notched that said armature when actuated by the current will throw said-lug in and out of'engagement with the first-mentioned notch whereby the switch or signal is head of said bolt and the bottom of said chamlocked and released and the armature being subject to but slight friction is easily actuated by the current, substantially as and for the purposes set forth. r I

1 1. In an electric switch andsignal apparatus the combination with an'electric switch or signal, a lever-bar whichactuates the same, a solenoid and its armature of means for con-- trolling the apparatus comprising a bar pivloted to said switch'and provided with a notch on its lower side, a bar pivoted to saidlever bar, which takes over the upperend of said armature and is provided on one side with a lug adapted to engage with said notch, and on the other-side so notched that said armature when actuated by the current will throw said lugin and out or engagement with said first-mentioned notch, a pawl pivoted at one side of' the notched portion of the last-mew tioned bar and provided onthe'upper portion of one end with a shouldered lug adapted-to engage with and be'thrown by'a-lug secured to the casing of the switch-lever and adapted.

at its other end to engage with alug on the armature whereby the armature is locked in its position and afailure of indication is prevented, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

-12. In an electric switch and signal appa'- ratus, the combination with'an electric switch or signal, a lever-bar which actuates the same, and a solenoid and its-armature of means for controllin g the apparatus comprising a bar pivoted to said switch and providedwith'a notch on its lower side, a bar pivoted to said lever bar which takes over the upper end of said armature, and is provided on one side witha lug adapted toengage with said notch and on the other side so notchedthat said armature when actuated by the current will throw said In g in and out of engagementwith the first-mentioned notch,a V-s'hapedh'ejad on the lower end of the armature,-abolt-'having an oppositely V-shapedhe'ad, a chamber in which said bolt isadapted to move, a spring contained'within said chamber'between the her whereby the bolt is pressed against the armature and when it is suddenly thrownby the actuating-current this pressure is-sufficient to prevent arebound of "the-armature and a consequentfailure of indication, substantially as and for the'purposes se't' forth".

Ifoo

vIn witness whereof I have hereunto-set m'y hand-in the presence of twowitnesses.

r I JOHN'D. TAYLOR. Witnesses:

JOSEPH H. MoREY, M: E. SNYDER. 

